The Return: Documenting Sudanese Stories of Displacement

Note: The donation currency is in Danish Kroner.

100 DKK = 14 USD dollars

1000 DKK = 141 USD Dollars

Bio

Salih Basheer (born in 1995, in Omdurman, Sudan) is a Sudanese photographer. After finishing high school in Sudan, he moved to Cairo in 2013 and received his Bachelor's degree in Geography from Cairo University in 2017. During his studies in Egypt, he started as a self-taught photographer, and subsequently studied PhotoJornalism in Denmark.

​In 2021, Basheer received the W. Eugene Smith Memorial Fund student grant for his personal project 22 Days in Between. For the same project, Basheer was awarded the Everyday Projects Grant, In January 2023, Basheer published 22 Days in Between, the first ever photo-book by a Sudanese photographer, and the book was awarded the 2023, Les Rencontres d’Arles Photo-Text Book Award.

For more information, visit salihbasheer.com or on Instagram at @salihbashier

Project Background

Since mid-April 2023, Sudan has been in a devastating conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The situation has led to the displacement of millions, exacerbating the already dire humanitarian crisis in the country. This ongoing violence has torn apart the fabric of Sudanese society, leaving families divided and communities in peril.

This project aims to document the profound impact of this crisis—focusing not just on the war but on the human experiences of loss, survival, and displacement. I want to tell the untold stories of Sudanese people forced to flee their homes, shedding light on their resilience and struggles in the face of overwhelming hardship. As a Sudanese person, I am intimately connected to this story, and I seek to present an unfiltered view of the challenges my people are facing—both within Sudan and in neighboring countries where many have sought refuge.

About the Project

Currently based in Nairobi, Kenya, I am working on a personal project that explores the displacement of Sudanese people due to the ongoing conflict. I’ve been documenting the lives of Sudanese external displacement here, and their personal experiences as they navigate life in exile.

However, to truly cover the full scope of the crisis, I must travel to other locations that are critical to the narrative. These include Uganda, South Sudan, and Sudan itself. My goal is to document the lives of those displaced both internally within Sudan and across borders, documenting their journeys, and their losses.

This project aims to go beyond the common headlines about Sudan. It’s about the people who live through this turmoil every day—those who are rebuilding their lives, their communities, and their identities in the face of a war that is not of their making. Your support will help me continue this vital work.

The funds raised will go directly toward covering:

Travel and Transportation: Essential to reaching refugee camps in Uganda, and South Sudan, where Sudanese displaced persons have sought shelter.

Accommodation and Basic Living Expenses: To allow me to spend time in these communities, documenting their stories authentically and respectfully.

Why This Project Matters

This project is crucial because it seeks to illuminate the human experiences behind the headlines. Displacement is not just a statistic—it’s a lived reality that changes people’s lives forever. Through this work, I want to highlight the Sudanese people's stories during this time we are experiencing, which are often overlooked in discussions about the region.